This document is entitled "The Zoning Ordinance of Spalding County, Georgia." It may also be known by and cited by the short title of "Spalding County Zoning Ordinance."

The power of a local government to enact an ordinance such as this, which is intended to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, is provided by the Home Rule provisions of the Constitution and Laws of the State of Georgia.

This ordinance applies to all land within the unincorporated areas of Spalding County, Georgia.

A.

The Zoning Ordinance of Spalding County, Georgia seeks to encourage the development of desirable land use patterns within Spalding County in accordance with the Spalding County Comprehensive Plan. The promotion of sound land use patterns is intended to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of certain conditions that can threaten the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Spalding County. This ordinance should serve the following purposes:

1.

Reduce the occurrence of hazardous traffic patterns and general congestion.

2.

Secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers.

3.

Assure that adequate light and air are provided.

4.

Prevent the overcrowding of land and undue concentration of population.

5.

Facilitate the adequate provision of public utilities and facilities.

6.

Promote adequate living conditions and sustained suitability of neighborhoods.

7.

Protect property against blight and depreciation.

B.

Additional benefits to the public interest that can accrue from the development of sound land use patterns are as follows:

1.

Efficient development and use of community utility networks.

2.

Economy in governmental expenditures.

3.

A higher level of convenience, order, prosperity, and aesthetics.

This ordinance provides for the following:

A.

Defines certain terms used in this ordinance.

B.

Establishes certain land use districts and specifies the boundaries of those districts.

C.

Provides procedures for administering and amending the ordinance.

D.

Regulates the erection, alteration, and use of buildings and structures.

E.

Provides penalties for violation of this ordinance.

F.

Defines the power and duties, as they relate to this ordinance, of the board of commissioners, as well as such administrative officers, bodies, and agencies as the board of commissioners may establish for the efficient exercise of the zoning powers of Spalding County under provisions specified in the Zoning Procedures Law (Ga. Code 1981, Section 36-66-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p 1139, 1.), Paragraph 2-(b)(1). This includes at a minimum the administrative officer, the planning commission, and the board of appeals.

G.

Repeals conflicting ordinances.

A.

Uniform Development Standards Adopted by Reference: The following uniform development standards are referred to frequently in the Spalding County Zoning Ordinance and are adopted by reference as part of this Ordinance:

1.

International Building Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

2.

International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

3.

International Mechanical Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

4.

International Fire Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

5.

International Plumbing Code, 2018 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

6.

National Electric Code, 2017 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

7.

International Residential Code, 2012 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

8.

International Energy Conservation Code, 2015 Edition, or 2013 ASHRAE 90.1, with Georgia Supplements and Amendments.

9.

Minimum Housing Code, Section 9-3100.

10.

Standards for Off-Street Parking and Service Facilities (See Appendix G. Contains uniform standards for design and minimum required number of off-street parking and services facilities.)

11.

IHI Industrial Housing Institute, 2010 Edition.

12.

International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2012 Edition, with Georgia Amendments.

13.

Georgia Stormwater Management Manual, Volume 1 and Volume 2, latest edition.

Copies of the above publications are available for public inspections in the Community Development Office.

B.

Uniform development ordinances related to zoning ordinance: The following uniform development ordinances are referred to frequently in the Spalding County Zoning Ordinance. Although they are adopted as separate ordinances, they are closely related to the zoning ordinance and are included as appendices to the unified development ordinances of Spalding County. These ordinances are as follows:

1.

Spalding County Subdivision Ordinance. (See Appendix A.)

2.

Ordinance establishing Spalding County Planning Commission. (See Appendix B.)

3.

Ordinance Establishing Spalding County Board of Appeals. (See Appendix C.)

4.

Spalding County Soil and Sedimentation Control Ordinance. (See Appendix D.)

5.

Spalding County Sign Ordinance. (See Appendix E.)

6.

Spalding County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinances. (See Appendix F.)

7.

Standards for Off-Street Parking and Service Facilities. (See Appendix G.)

Copies of the above ordinances are available for public inspection or may be purchased in the office of the administrative officer.

(Res. No. A-14-01, §§ 1, 2, 5-5-14; Res. No. A-15-01, § 2, 5-5-15; Res. No. A-16-03, § 1, 12-5-16; Res. No. A-17-06, §§ 1, 2, 12-4-17 ; Res. No. A-17-07, §§ 1, 2, 3-5-18; Res. No. A-19-08 , § 2, 12-16-19)